Cruising Ducks

  • Started in 2018 by a 10-year-old girl named Abby Davis

    • She gathered 50 toy ducks and hid them on her 7-day Carnival Breeze cruise

    • It has spread to many different cruise lines

  • Purchase rubber ducks, make tags for them, and hide them in any public place on a cruise ship

  • People will sometimes take pictures when hiding them to remember where they are and to give people clues

  • People will search for them or randomly find them

  • Once they are found they can be kept or re-hidden

  • People can post pictures of ones they have found to say thank you

  • The goal is to see how far the ducks travel and where their journey takes them

  • How to participate

    • Purchase some ducks

      • Dollar store or Etsy are great options

      • Write your information on the bottom or on the tags

        • Your name, the date, home, etc.

        • Add a unique hashtag and ask people to use it when posting.

        • It makes it easier to track your ducks

        • Feel free to go crazy and make a custom tag

      • Go have fun and hide the ducks

        • Must be hidden in public spots

  • What to do if you find a duck and want to play

    • When you find one, take a picture of the duck, and post it to the Cruising Ducks Facebook page use the hashtag if one is on the tag

      • Cruising ducks original group on Facebook

    • Keep the duck you found or hide it again

      • If you hide it again, consider adding your name to the tag or bottom of the duck

  • Avoid areas to hide ducks

    • Pools or hot tubs

    • Onboard ships

    • Not able to retrieve the duck standing (you need a chair or table to stand on)

    • Risk losing the duck overboard

Update From PlanDisney Website

On Dec 29, 2023
Jocelyn from Essex AskedPlease note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.“

What are approved places to hide rubber ducks on the cruise”

Ahoy Jocelyn and welcome to planDisney! 

My pal Adrianna recently checked with agents at Disney Cruise Line and was advised that guests cannot hide things in public areas around the ship.  While this may not be the answer you wanted, there are plenty of other fun activities to do while onboard.  Just like a duck, you and your family can splash around in the pool or aqua play areas.  You can also participate in games, experience live shows, and dance during deck parties.   All of these activities and so much more are included in your cruise.  Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to view the daily activities once onboard. 

Thank you for your question, and please sail back to planDisney for your Disney Cruise Line planning needs.

Adventure is out there!
JoVonn

  • Of note we are hearing a few things happening on the ships

    • Housekeeping or cast members are asking after they are put out to circle back within a few hours and pick up the ones not found

    • Guests have reported that crew have grabbed them almost immediately and throw them away

    • Not sure how Disney will police this policy but they currently are the only cruise line that does not support Cruise Ducks

  • Hiding and re-hiding rubber ducks isn’t just a fun game Disney Cruise Line guests engage in it’s popular on other cruise lines as also. We are not sure why Disney Cruise is now discouraging guests from hiding rubber ducks but it’s possible some ducks were hidden in dangerous spots or they disrupted the crew in some way.

  • Possible rumor is from the Australia sailings, cruisers brought on hundreds of ducks and some were even found in the Christmas Tree in the Atrium and that adolescents have been seen on other sailings throwing them into areas it is hard to retrieve for cruisers and crew